Any attempt by Trimble to out-Paisley Paisley a tactical mistake, says Adams

He was not surprised by the increased vote for anti-agreement unionists, Gerry Adams said yesterday. "I do appreciate the difficulties which David Trimble has had, but if he tries to out-Paisley Ian Paisley, that's a major tactical mistake. If he signs up for an agreement and then refuses to vote for it in the British houses of parliament, that just confuses people and allows the Paisleys of this world to come in with a relatively straightforward message.

"By sending confusing signals, he has demoralised unionists, not necessarily to the extent that they voted for the No candidates, but that they didn't vote at all. They didn't see the point".

It would have been better, of course, if the vote had been otherwise, he said, "but we live in the real world. This is a little apartheid state which still has some of the vestiges of negativism and some almost racist attitudes at some level so you have to deal with that reality . . . We all need to guard against Ian Paisley using this election as a mandate for destruction because, rest assured, he won't go to prison and, rest assured, he won't be in the firing line of this whole thing because of his approach."

Speaking after his election on the first count for West Belfast, he predicted that Sinn Fein would definitely get three seats there and would be "in with a shout for four". He regretted there would probably not be a unionist representative elected in his constituency. "I am the MP for the area and I see it as my duty to do my best to represent all sections. I have a great affection for Belfast city and for the people of my own district and that includes the Shankill Road, but I don't pretend to represent them on the constitutional issue. I think it's unfortunate that they may feel in some way marginalised by what essentially are the difficulties within their own political leadership, who shredded their own vote.

"But let's talk to them. Let's try and persuade them that they also have an honourable and an honoured place in the new Ireland and new society in this as opposed to the type of negative, minimalist, goingback-to-the-1690s approach that has dominated politics here for far too long".

The "big story" of the day, he said, was that nationalists were "resurgent". "Going into the general election, we argued for a strengthening of the nationalist/republican axis. The story is that both nationalist parties have increased their vote as we have in previous elections. I think there is that sense of assertiveness and confidence within nationalism and we're a part of that and that makes me very happy."

The success of the Belfast Agreement would depend on the two governments "sticking with the agreement and making sure that all the issues which have been identified in it are implemented in a comprehensive way". There should be no delay about setting up the structures agreed, he said. It was important that people should start to see real change.

Asked about yesterday's Irish Times report that the IRA was preparing to identify the secret burial sites of some 12 people abducted and killed by them, he said the first he knew of it was when he read it in the newspaper. "I have no comment to make on it. As I have said before, with respect, this is not a media issue. It is not an issue that I can make public announcements on.

"I have made commitments to a number of families who contacted me that I would use all my influence to try to have those bodies returned to their loved ones because I think their cause is an entirely just one, but it is private work to be going on with.

"I have to think about families sitting back there, some of them my constituents, reading that, listening to what I'm saying, and what I want to do at some time is to bring them good news, so let's just persist and persevere."